The 10 best tech cars of 2012

Infiniti JX35/Nissan Pathfinder: Around View circle of safety

Infiniti was a pioneer in placing cameras on all four sides of the car (including two in the side mirrors facing straight down). Do that, stitch the image together in real time, display it all on the LCD display, and the Infiniti Around View Monitor makes it almost impossible to ding the car when pulling into or out of a tight parking space. You’ll also see exactly how close you are to the wall of a parking garage, you’ll never crunch the $500 front spoiler parking too close to a high curb, and you can parallel park with confidence. The new Infiniti JX35 medium-large SUV is the latest and best user of this technology.

Infiniti also provides low-speed moving object detection: If a child, dog, or car gets too close as you’re backing in or pulling out, a warning sounds. Other tech helps avoid accidents too. Infiniti’s lane departure warning and prevention warns if you cross a lane without your signal on and selectively applies brakes on one side to nudge the car back into lane. Similarly, blind spot detection and intervention first warns if you’re about to change lanes if another car is in the lane and then, if you don’t take action, the car eases you back into lane. Adaptive cruise control is available; that’s a key technology for boring long-disance travel.

If you need a land cruiser that’s a bit smaller and also cheaper than the Mercedes-Benz GL, the JX may be the hot ticket. And if you need something cheaper than the Infiniti JX 35, the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder (photo) is much the same vehicle and offers Around View (on a $39,000 model, $11,000 up from the entry Pathfinder). It lacks the adaptive cruise control option so useful for long-distance cruising. This keeps the Pathfinder from cannibalizing Infiniti sales, Nissan execs hope. Both come with front-drive, CVT transmissions, and optional all-wheel drive.

PS: If you read this a year from now, the Infiniti JX35 will be name-changed to Infiniti QX60 as part of a rebranding campaign. This comes from the Japanese Nissan that was known in the US as Datsun, which became Nissan, which begat the Infiniti luxury brand that used Q a lot in its early models and now is bringing non-Q models into line and changing the numeric part from the engine displacement (3.5 liters here) to a semi-random number.

The 10 Best award stands. Barely. At one time, Q stood for quixotic, as in Infiniti’s chances of overtaking Lexus. Now, they’re on a roll.

Key technology: Around View Monitor system shows overhead view of the vehicle when moving at slow speed in confined spaces.

Pros: Great long distance cruiser with all the technology you’d hope for.

Cons: Infiniti and Nissan suffer from the Asian Disease; lane departure and blind spot warnings are annoying beeps the passengers hear, too. European and American automakers vibrate the steering wheel or seat pan so only the driver knows the driver screwed up.

Wow! I’ll take that Tesla if someone helps pay for it. Note, however, there is an alternative plug-electric business model, subscriptions (you do not own the battery, Better Place is responsible for it. Need more range, stop in for a 5-minute exchange!).

My dad (z”l) and I used to service own cars, tune up, adjust carburetors (hey, folks: what’s that?), plugs (spark, that is), etc. When my mom wanted that Toyota, that all ended for good. The seat-of-your-pants only has room for a fat wallet. No-so-hidden price of all this top-class technology.

sip

The Citroen C6 came with HUD as standard-fit way before BMW offered it as an extra-cost option.

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The Citroen DS (later ones) came with curve light. About 30-40 years before BMW invented it.

The biggest obstacles to electric cars is the cost and capacity of batteries, which has been the case for over a century. Except for the battery, an EV should cost less than a gas powered vehicle. The problem with the Tesla is its exorbitant price tag and its inability to travel our Interstates on extended trips at anything beyond an average speed of 45 MPH or thereabouts, which makes Elon Musk’s premature claims about equality with ICE vehicles totally inane. Elon Musk is a salesman, which should be obvious to anyone frequenting his company’s website. As for energy consumption claims, that all depends … I think one of Tesla’s enthusiastic Vice Presidents once said that the mileage costs ” could be as low as 2 cents per mile.” Actually, that’s the amount of road taxes that electric cars are cheating the govt out of, but must pay at some point (some states already are taxing electric cars. He also neglected that not-so-small issue of battery costs, which are astoundingly high, according to Tesla’s prices for replacement. And its doubtful that electricity costs will run 2 cents per mile, even when charged the national average of 12 cents per Kwhr. More likely the energy consumption will be around 2 miles per Kwhr,or 6 cents per mile, three times greater than Tesla’s ridiculous claims. And in consumer ripoff states like California and Hawaii ( 35 cents per kWhr) it actually costs more to fuel an electric car than a gas powered job at $4 per gallon. And that doesn’t include road taxes or battery deterioration costs.
Anyone who thinks they will save money driving an electric car is out of touch..

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